1. Asiimwe Grace Karimu, F. Monje, D. Mugabi, H. Mulondo, C. Odong, H. Kazoora, T. Odoch, C. Ohuobunwo, K. Ssemogerere

2.  Introduction  Methods  Results  Discussions  Conclusion  Recommendations

3.  Humans acquire rabies through bites by infected animals.  Domestic dogs are most important source of infection to humans with more than 95% of human cases  Although human rabies encephalitis remains untreatable the infection is preventable  In 2010, Uganda reported 12,718 cases and 203 deaths from rabies with 82 (0.6%) cases from Mubende district.  About 23% of land covered by forests

4. General objective.  To describe the burden of animal bites in humans and possible control measures Specific objectives  Describe the burden of animal bite cases by person place and time  Identify possible control measures in place

5.  Cross sectional study design  Abstracted data from HMIS 031 registers at Mubende regional referral hospital (MRRH) and Veterinary department records.  Conducted community survey from selected subcounties.  Data analysed using Epi info version 5.3.1 software

6. Veterinary Records Medical records

7.  In 2010 and 2011, 563 patients reported animal bites from 15 subcounties to MRRH with less than 1% first reporting to vet.  Majority of the bites were due to dogs 540 (96%)  Others; cats 12 (2.1%), jackals 5 (0.9%), goats 3 (0.5%), humans 3 (0.5%).

9.  Patients aged 3 months to 84 years.  Females 293 (52%) most affected.  Only 541 (96.1%) patients treated with post exposure rabies vaccine  Only 125 (23.1%) of the patients received the recommended 2-3 vaccine doses.  March and August with high incidences

13.  Children (10 - 19yrs) more prone to animal bites.  School going children most affected  Stray dogs seen in communities visited  Stray dog bites common.  Weak departmental collaboration (Hospital, medical and veterinary dep'ts)

14. Only 28% of the respondents had knowledge on rabies

15.  Animal bites and human rabies in Mubende primarily due to stray dogs.  Post exposure prophylaxis is currently inadequate.  Limited community knowledge on rabies  Irregular control strategies

16.  District recruit Veterinary staff  MAAIF provide vaccines to district for mass vaccination of pets  Vet Sensitise communities/schools on rabies  Training of VHT to report on zoonoses.  Killing any stray dogs in the community  Strengthening the bond between Health and Veterinary dep'ts (One Health) in the district

17. Sensitisation of communities on rabies Kasambya subcounty Kiyuni subcounty

18.  Mubende district local government  MRRH  MUK-COVAB  MAAIF  AFENET  USAID - RESPOND